# James Oyebola

James Oyebola (10 June 1961 – 27 July 2007) was a Nigerian and British heavyweight boxer who won a bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in the super heavyweight division. Oyebola was the British heavyweight champion from 1994 to 1996.
Oyebola was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Standing 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, with a reach of 85 inches (2.16 m), he fought in the orthodox stance and won 18 of his 23 fights, 16 by knock out, losing four and drawing one. He was pronounced brain dead after injuries sustained by gunshot wounds to his head after a nightclub altercation. He was based in Paddington during his career.

## Amateur career

Oyebola was the ABA Super Heavyweight Champion in 1986 and 1987.

## Pro career

Oyebola won the WBC International Heavyweight title in 1993 and the vacant British Heavyweight title on 19 November 1994 at the National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales when he knocked out Clifton Mitchell in 4 rounds. His last fight, in 1996, was a defeat to Julius Francis. He was nicknamed "Big Bad" during his career.

## Personal life

Oyebola fathered two children by Malin Bergstrom, both born in Westminster, London: Kristel Regina Oyebola (born 1994) and James Babatunde Oyebola (born 1999).

## Murder

Oyebola was shot in the back of the neck and leg in the early hours of 23 July 2007 after an altercation in the Chateau 6 club at Fulham Broadway where he was visiting a friend for a drink. He had gone to assist staff asking four customers in the rear courtyard to put out their cigarettes to observe the recently imposed smoking ban and was shot as they left the premises.
Simon Block, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, paid the following tribute: "Throughout that time he was truly one of nature's gentlemen and to think of him lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life as a result of a cowardly and gutless attack by those who will not have been possessed of the same courage that he showed in the way he faced adversity, in and out of the ring, fills me with both sadness and dismay."
Oyebola's family decided that they would turn off his life support machine on 27 July 2007 at 11:30 am (10:30 GMT) after he was pronounced brain dead on 26 July 2007. It was announced at 12:39 pm on 27 July 2007 that James Oyebola had died, at Charing Cross Hospital, after his life support machine had been switched off. His funeral was held on 10 September 2007.

### Aftermath

Four men were charged with Oyebola's murder, but charges against two, Rene McKoy and Dean Francis, were dropped. Kanyanta Mubanga Mulenga (born 1985, Wandsworth, London) was convicted on 8 October 2008 of his murder and has been sentenced to 28 years in prison.
A fourth man, who can not be named for legal reasons, was expected to stand trial in 2009 for James' murder.
The Oyebola family have said they will establish a charity foundation in James Oyebola's name aimed at helping direct youngsters towards a brighter future.

## Professional boxing record

18 Wins (16 knockouts, 2 decisions), 4 Losses (4 knockouts), 1 Draws :
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd. | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 18–4-1 | Julius Francis | TKO | 10 (10), 2:31 | 27 September 1997 | Broadway Theatre, London, England | BBBofC Southern Area heavyweight title |
| Loss | 18–3-1 | Scott Welch | TKO | 10 (12) | 27 October 1995 | Metropole Hotel, Brighton, England | Vacant Commonwealth (British Empire) and BBBofC British heavyweight title |
| Win | 18–2-1 | Keith McMurray | TKO | 7 (10), 1:41 | 7 February 1995 | Corn Exchange, Ipswich, England | |
| Win | 17–2-1 | Clifton Mitchell | KO | 4 (12), 0:58 | 19 November 1994 | National Ice Rink, Cardiff, Wales | Vacant BBBofC British heavyweight title |
| Win | 16–2-1 | Scott Welch | KO | 5 (12), 1;00 | 6 May 1994 | Boardwalk Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | WBC International heavyweight title |
| Win | 15–2-1 | Ladislao Mijangos | TKO | 2 (8), 1:32 | 9 February 1994 | York Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 14–2-1 | Jimmy Bills | PTS | 8 (8) | 1 December 1993 | York Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 13–2-1 | Roger McKenzie | TKO | 1 (12) | 13 October 1993 | York Hall, London, England | Vacant WBC International and BBBofC Southern Area heavyweight title |
| Win | 12–2-1 | Denroy Bryan | TKO | 5 (6), 2:15 | 15 September 1993 | York Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 11–2-1 | Bombaphani Bonyongo Destroyer | KO | 1 (?) | 18 May 1991 | Harare, Zimbabwe | |
| Win | 10–2-1 | Stan Campbell | KO | 1 (?), 2:26 | 4 April 1991 | Convention Center, Greenville, Mississippi, U.S. | |
| Loss | 9–2-1 | John Westgarth | TKO | 5 (6), 0:45 | 07 March, 1989 | Hudsons Sports Centre, Wisbech, England | |
| Win | 9–1-1 | Art Terry | KO | 5 (8) | 15 February 1989 | York Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 8–1-1 | John Westgarth | KO | 3 (6) | 31 January 1989 | Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, England | |
| Win | 7–1-1 | Everton Champion Christian | KO | 1 (6) | 23 November 1988 | York Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 6–1-1 | Dorcy Gaymon | TKO | 1 (6), 0:49 | 01 November, 1988 | Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, England | |
| Win | 5–1-1 | Tee Lewis | KO | 1 (?) | 07 September, 1988 | Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, England | |
| Draw | 4–1-1 | Andrew Gerrard | PTS | 6 (6) | 05 May, 1988 | Municipal Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 4–1 | Denroy Bryan | TKO | 6 (6), 1:44 | 09 February, 1988 | York Hall, London, England | |
| Loss | 3–1 | Mike Jones | TKO | 2 (6) | 24 November 1987 | Hudsons Sports Centre, Wisbech, England | |
| Win | 3–0 | Carl Timbrell | KO | 2 (6) | 03 November, 1987 | York Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 2–0 | Ian Priest | TKO | 2 (8), 2:39 | 16 September 1987 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |
| Win | 1–0 | Andrew Gerrard | PTS | 6 (6) | 01 July, 1987 | Royal Albert Hall, London, England | |